Penticton

The City of Penticton is scrambling to replace the chiller at Memorial Arena before the summer hockey season.

The city has posted a notice of intent to bypass the traditional tender process and purchase a new chiller from Glacier Heights Refrigeration for about $185,000.

“Technical Safety BC issued a fail notice for the ammonia chiller plant at Memorial Arena,” the city’s notice reads, explaining a new chiller, the only one in Canada, has been located in Vancouver. “Time is of the essence.”

Removal of the existing chiller is slated to begin next week in order to have the ice ready for hockey season starting July 1. Other suppliers will have until May 23 to challenge the no-bid tender.

The city’s director of facilities Bregje Kozak says a report on the situation will be brought before council next week.